Adjustable storage bin

ABSTRACT

Adjustable storage bins include a bin portion, at least one long wall, and at least one short wall. The adjustable storage bins can include a plurality of long walls and a plurality of short walls. The long and short walls are each removably connected within the adjustable storage bin. At least one short wall or at least one long wall, or both, can be telescoping walls. Telescoping walls have a length that can be adjusted, such as by being increased or decreased. Accordingly, the long walls and short walls can be arranged and rearranged within the interior of the adjustable storage bins to provide interior compartments having a variety of alternative sizes and shapes.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/964,617, filed on Aug. 13, 2007, currently pending, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to storage devices, and moreparticularly relates to storage bins having multiple compartments.

Storage bins having multiple compartments can he utilized to organizeand store small objects. Such storage bins can be placed on any suitablesurface, such as on counters, tables, or shelves. Such storage bins canalso be placed within drawers to organize the items contained therein.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The invention relates generally to storage devices and, morespecifically, to a storage bin having adjustable interior walls so thatmultiple storage compartment configurations may be formed.

In one aspect, an adjustable storage bin is provided that includes a binportion, a long wall, and a telescoping short wall. The bin portion hasa bottom and a side wall, where the bottom and the side wall define aninterior of the bin portion. The long wall is located within theinterior of the bin portion and is connected to the side wall. Thetelescoping short wall is located within the interior of the bin portionand is connected to the long wall. The telescoping short wall includes afirst portion and a second portion. The first portion of the telescopingshort wall includes a connection end having a tab, and a clip end havinga clip. The second portion of the telescoping short wall includes aconnection end having a collar that receives the tab of the firstportion, and a clip end having a clip. The bin preferably includes aplurality of long walls and a plurality of telescoping short walls.

In a second aspect, an adjustable storage bin is provided that includesa bin portion, a telescoping long wall, and a short wall. The binportion has a bottom and a side wall, and the bottom and the side walldefine an interior of the bin portion. The telescoping long wall islocated within the interior of the bin portion and is connected to theside wall. The telescoping long wall includes a first portion and asecond portion. The first portion of the telescoping long wall includesa connection end having a tab, and a clip end having a clip. The secondportion of the telescoping long wall includes a connection end having acollar that receives the tab of the first portion, and a clip end havinga clip. The short wall is located within the interior of the bin portionand is connected to the long-wall. The bin preferably includes aplurality of telescoping long walls and a plurality of short walls.

In as third aspect, an adjustable storage bin is provided that includesa bin portion, a telescoping long wall, and a telescoping short wall.The telescoping long wall is located within the interior of the binportion and is connected to the side wall. The telescoping short wall islocated within the interior of the bin portion and is connected to thelong wall. The telescoping long wall and the telescoping short wall eachinclude a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includesa connection end having a tab, and a clip end having a clip. The secondportion includes a connection end having a collar that receives the tabof the first portion, and a clip end having a clip. The bin preferablyincludes a plurality of telescoping long walls and a plurality oftelescoping short walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific examples have been chosen for purposes of illustration anddescription, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a panof the specification. In the drawings, like numerals depict like parts.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable storagebin of the present invention in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bin portion of the adjustablestorage bin of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an adjustable small wall of theadjustable storage bin of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the first portion of the small wall ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 4B is a side elevational view of the first portion of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the second portion of the small wall ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5B is a side elevational view of the second portion of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a large wall of the adjustable bin ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6B is side elevational view of the large wall of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adjustablestorage bin of the present invention in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 8 is a perspective, view of a third embodiment of an adjustablestorage bin of the present invention in an assembled configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Adjustable storage bins disclosed herein include a bin portion, at leastone long wall, and at least one short wall. The adjustable storage binscan have one long wall, or a plurality of long walls. For example, astorage bin can have at least two long walls, such as two, three, ormore than three long walls. A storage bin can also have one short wall,or a plurality of short walls. For example, a storage bin can have atleast two short walls, such as two, three, or more than three shortwalls. Preferably, an adjustable storage bin includes a plurality oflong walls and a plurality of short walls. The long and short walls areeach removably connected within the adjustable storage bin.Additionally, at least, one short wall or at least one long wall orboth, can be telescoping walls. Telescoping walls have a length that canbe adjusted, such as a length that can be increased or decreased.Accordingly, the long walls and short walls can be arranged andrearranged within the interior of the adjustable storage bins to provideinterior compartments having a variety of alternative sizes and shapes.

One example of an adjustable storage bin in an assembled configurationis indicated at 10 in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the adjustablestorage bin includes a bin portion 14, two long walls 16 a and 16 b, andfour telescoping short walls 18 a-18 d. As shown in FIG. 1, the longwalls 16 a and 16 d have a fixed length. The long walls 16 a and 16 b,and the telescoping short walls 18 a-18 d are positioned within theinterior of bin portion 14 so that a plurality of interior compartmentsare formed.

Adjustable storage bin 10, and the individual components thereof, can bemade from any suitable material. For example, each component of theadjustable storage bin 10 can be constructed from steel mesh and steelwire. Each component can also have any suitable coating, such as, forexample, an epoxy coating. As shown in FIG. 1, each component of theadjustable storage bin 10, including the bin portion 14, each long wall16 a and 16 b, and each short wall 18 a-18 d, preferably has a top edgeand a lower edge formed from steel wire, and has steel mesh extendingbetween the upper and lower edges of the component. Alternatively, it isto be understood that the components of the adjustable storage bin canbe constructed from a variety of alternative materials including, butnot limited to plastic, wood and other metals.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bin portion 14 has a bottom 22 anda side wall 20. The bottom and the side wall together define an interior12 of the bin portion 14. The side wall 20 preferably includes a frontside 20 a, a rear side 20 c opposite the front side, a first side 20 bthat extends from the front side to the rear side, and a second side 20c opposite the first side that extends from the front side to the rearside. The side wall 20 can nave a top edge and a lower edge, and thebottom 22 can be connected to the lower edge of the side wall 20. Theside wall can be formed from a single piece or from multiple pieces.

Bin portion 14 is preferably square, but can have any suitable shape,including for example, a rectangle, a circle, or an oval. Bin portion 14can also have any suitable dimensions, such as length, width, andheight. For example, the bin portion 14 can have a length from about 6inches to about 24 inches, or greater than 24 inches. Similarly, the binportion 14 can have a width from about 6 inches to about 24 inches, orgreater than 24 inches. Preferably the length and width of the binportion 14 are each from about 8 inches to about 20 inches, and morepreferably from about 10 inches to about 16 inches. Bin portion 14 canhave a height from about 1 inch to about 12 inches, or greater than 12inches. Preferably, bin portion 14 has a height from about 3 inches toabout 5 inches.

FIG. 1 illustrates short walls 18 a-18 d as telescoping short walls.Alternatively, one or more of the short walls can have a fixed length,such as the structure described below with respect to long walls 16 aand 16 d. As illustrated in FIG. 1, telescoping short walls 18 a-18 dare located within the interior 12 of the bin portion 14. Telescopingshort walls are preferably configures such that they can connect to thetop edge of a long wall, the top edge of the side wall, or to the topedge of another short wall. As shown in FIG. 1, telescoping short wall18 a is connected to the long wall 16 a at one end and to the side wall20 at the opposite end, telescoping short wall 18 b is connected to thelong wall 16 a at one end and to the long wall 16 b at the opposite end,and telescoping short walls 18 c and 18 d are connected to the long wall16 b at one end and to the side wall 20 at the opposite end.

FIGS. 3 through 5B illustrate telescoping short wall 18 a. Telescopingshort walls 18 b through 18 d preferably have a structure that issubstantially the same as that of telescoping short wall 18 a.Telescoping short wall 18 a has a first portion 26 and a second portion28. The first portion 26 and the second portion 28 are connected in atelescoping manner. The first portion 26 and the second portion 28 canbe configured such that the first portion is permanently retained by thesecond portion 28, or such that the first portion 26 can be removed orseparated from the second portion 28.

The first portion 26 of the telescoping short wall includes a wallportion, a connection end having a tab 32, and a clip end having a clip34. Tab 32 preferably has a height that is less than the height of thewall portion of the first portion 26. The second portion 28 of thetelescoping short wall includes a wall portion, a connection end havinga collar 48, and a clip end having a clip 44. Collar 48 is configured toreceive the tab 32 of the first portion 26. The clip 34 of the firstportion 26 and the clip 44 of the second portion 28 each include a hook,the hook being configured to connect to the top edge of a long wall, thetop edge of a short wall, or the to edge of the side wall 20. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, clip 34 has hook 36, and clip 44 has hook 46.Hooks 44 and 46 are inverted hooks, which curve away from the first andsecond portions 26 and 28, respectively, of the short telescoping wall.Hooks 44 and 46 can be connected to, and preferably snap onto, the topedge of a long wall, a short wall, or of the sidewall 20.

In the illustrated example, the collar 48 is attached to one side of theconnection end of the second portion 28. Preferably, the collar 48 ofthe second portion 28 slidably receives the tab 32 of the first portion26. Collar 48 has a first side connected to the top edge of the secondportion 28, a second side connected to the lower edge of the secondportion 28, and a third side that extends from the first side to thesecond side. The three sides of collar 48 form an opening sized toreceive the tab portion 32 of the first portion 26. Preferably, theopening is generally rectangular in shape. As illustrated in. FIGS. 3and 5A and 5B, the collar 48 has a flap 52 that is bent inwards tocontact a side of the tab 32. Preferably, flap 52 is in frictionalcontact with the tab 32, such that the desired length of the telescopingshort wall 18 a can be maintained after selection in the absence ofmanual force exerted to adjust the length of the telescoping short wall18 a. Alternatively, or additionally, flap 52 can be a stop that retainsfirst portion 26 so that the first portion 26 does not disconnect fromthe second portion 28.

The telescoping short wall 18 a has a length that can be increased bypulling the clip end of the first portion away from the clip end of thesecond portion, and can be decreased by pushing the clip end of thefirst portion towards the clip end of the second portion. Accordingly,telescoping short wall 18 a, as well as any other telescoping shortwalls, may be adjusted in terms of length and then positioned so as toextend between the sidewall 20 and a long wall, such as long wall 16 aor 16 b, between two long walls, between a long wall and a short wall,or between two short walls. In this manner, a variety of interiorstorage compartments having a length or width smaller than the interior12 of the bin portion 14 can be created.

Telescoping short walls, such as telescoping short walls 18 a-18 d ofFIG. 1 are preferably generally rectangular in shape, although they canhave any other suitable shape. Telescoping short walls can also have anysuitable dimensions, such as maximum length, minimum length, width, andheight that can be received within the interior of the bin portion 14.The maximum length of a telescoping short wall is the greatest lengththat can be achieved with the first portion 26 being received by thesecond portion 28. Telescoping short walls preferably have a maximumlength from about 3 inches to about 12 inches, or greater than 12inches. Preferably a telescoping short wall has a maximum length fromabout 4 inches, to about 10 inches, and more preferably from about 5inches to about 8 inches. The minimum length of a telescoping short wallis the smallest length that the wall can achieve, and can be when thetip of the connection end of the first portion 26 abuts the clip at theclip end of the second portion 28. Telescoping short walls preferablyhave a minimum length from about 1.5 inches to about 4 inches, orgreater than 4 inches. Preferably a telescoping short wall has a minimumlength from about 2 inches to about 5 inches, and more preferably fromabout 3 inches to about 5 inches. The clip portions of a telescopingshort wall preferably have a width that is greater than the width of thewall portions. For example, the wall portion of a first or secondportion of a telescoping short wall preferably has a width from about0.10 inches to about 1 inch, more preferably from about 0.15 inches toabout 0.25 inches. The clip portion preferably has a width from about0.5 inches to about 2 inches, more preferably from about 0.75 inches toabout 1 inch. Clip portions of a telescoping short wall preferably havea height that is substantially equal to the height of the bin portion14, or is less than the height of the bin portion 14. Accordingly, aclip portion of a telescoping short, wall can have a height from about 1inch to about 12 inches, or greater than 12 inches, and preferably has aheight from about 3 inches to about 5 inches. The wall portions of atelescoping short wall preferably have a height that is substantiallyequal to the clip portions of the telescoping short wall, or is lessthan the height of the clip portions of the telescoping short wall.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate long wall 16 a of FIG. 1, which has a fixedlength. Long wall 16 a includes a wall portion having a first end and asecond end, each end of the long wall having a clip portion configuredto connect to a top edge of the side wall. For example, first clipportion 54 on the first end of long wall 16 a has a hook 64, and secondclip portion 56 on the second end of long wall 16 a has a hook 66. Hooks64 and 66 are inverted hooks, which curve away front the first andsecond ends, respectively, of the long wall 16 a. Hooks 64 and 66 areeach configured to receive the top edge of the side wall 20, and arepreferably configured to snap onto the top edge of side wall 20.Accordingly, long wall 16 a can be placed within the interior 12 of thebin portion 14, and can be connected to the side wall 20 at a locationchosen by a user. Preferably, the long wall 16 a can be connected to thefront side 20 a and the rear side 20 c of the side wall 20, or to thefirst side 20 b and the second side 20 c of the side wall 20.Preferably, long wall 16 d, and any other long walls utilized in theadjustable storage bin, can have a structure that is substantially thesame as the structure of long wall 16 a. Alternatively, long wall 16 a,long wall 16 d, or any other long wall utilized in the adjustablestorage bin, can have a telescoping structure in accordance with thedescription provided above for the telescoping short walls of adjustablestorage bin 10.

Long walls, such as long walls 16 a and 16 d are preferably generallyrectangular in shape, although they can have any other suitable shape.Long walls can also have any suitable dimensions, such as length, width,and height that can be received within the interior of the bin portion14. Long walls 16 a and 16 d preferably have a length that extends fromone side of the side wall 20 to an opposite side thereof. Accordingly, along wall can have a length from about 6 inches to about 24 inches, orgreater than 24 inches. Preferably the long wall has a length from about8 inches to about 20 inches, and more preferably from about 10 inches toabout 16 inches. The clip portions of a long wall preferably have awidth that is greater than the width of the wall portion. For example,the wall portion of a long wall preferably has a width from about 0.10inches to about 1 inch, more preferably from about 0.15 inches to about0.25 inches. The clip portion preferably has a width from about 0.5inches to about 2 inches, more preferably from about 0.75 inches toabout 1 inch. The clip portions of a long wall preferably have a heightthat is substantially equal to the height of the bin portion 14, or isless than the height of the bin portion 14. Accordingly, the clipportions of a long wall can have a height from about 1 inch to about 12inches, or greater than 12 inches. Preferably, the clip portions of along wall have a height from about 3 inches to about 5 inches. The wallportion of a long wall preferably has a height that is substantiallyequal to the clip portions of the long wall, or is less than the heightof the clip portions of the long wall.

As discussed above, long walls and short walls for use in adjustablestorage bins can have a fixed length, or can be telescoping walls. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1-6B, the long walls 16 a and 16 d have a fixedlength and the short walls 18 a through 18 d are telescoping walls.FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate alternative examples of adjustable storagebins.

FIG. 7 illustrates adjustable storage bin 100, which includes a binportion 102 having a bottom 104 and a side wall 106. The bottom 104 andthe side wall 106 define an interior 108 of the bin portion 102. The bin100 also includes one or at least two telescoping long walls, and one orat least two short walls. The bin 100 preferably includes a plurality oftelescoping long walls and a plurality of short walls. As illustrated inFIG. 7, the bin 100 has two telescoping long walls 110 a and 110 b, andfour short walls 112 a-d. Short walls 112 a-d have a fixed length. Thetelescoping long walls 110 a and 110 b are located within the interior108 of the bin portion 102, and are connected to the side wall 106. Theside wall 106 can be configured in the same manner as the side wall 20of bin 10. The telescoping long walls 110 a and 110 b can have atelescoping structure in accordance with the telescoping short walls 18a-d of bin 10, but preferably have dimensions in accordance with thedimensions of long wall 16 a. For example, telescoping long walls 110 aand 110 b can have a first portion and a second portion. The firstportion of the telescoping long wall can include a wall portion, aconnection end having a tab, and a clip end having a clip. The secondportion of the telescoping long wall can include a wall portion, aconnection end having a collar that receives the tab of the firstportion, and a clip end having a clip. As illustrated in FIG. 7, theshort walls 112 a-d are located within the interior 108 of the binportion 102, and are connected to at least one of the long walls.

FIG. 8 illustrates adjustable storage bin 200, which includes a binportion 202 having a bottom 204 and a side wall 206. The bottom 204 andthe side wall 206 define an interior 208 of the bin portion 202. The bin200 also includes one or at least two telescoping long walls, and one orat least two telescoping short walls. The bin 200 preferably includes aplurality of telescoping long walls and a plurality of telescoping shortwalls. As illustrated, the bin 209 has two telescoping long walls 210 aand 210 b, and four telescoping short walls 212 a-d. The telescopinglong walls 210 a and 210 b are located within the interior 208 of thebin portion 202, and are connected to the side wall 206. The side wall206 can be configured in the same manner as the side wall 20 of bin 10.The telescoping short walls can have a telescoping structure inaccordance with the telescoping short walls 18 a-d of bin 10. Thetelescoping long walls 210 a and 210 b can also have a telescopingstructure in accordance with the telescoping short walls 18 a-d of bin10, but preferably have dimensions in accordance with the dimensions oflong wall 16 a. For example, each telescoping long wall and eachtelescoping short wall can include a first portion and a second portion.The first portion can include a wall portion, a connection end having atab, and a clip end having a clip. The second portion can include a wallportion, a connection end having a collar that receives the tab of thefirst portion, and a clip end having a clip.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that although specificexamples have been described herein for purposes of illustration,various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit orscope of this disclosure. For example, an adjustable storage bin caninclude one or more long walls that have a fixed length and one or morelong walls that are telescoping walls. Additionally, an adjustablestorage bin can include one or more short walls that have a fixed lengthand one or more short walls that are telescoping walls. It is thereforeintended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded asillustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it isthe following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended toparticularly point out and distinctly claim the claimed subject matter.

1. An adjustable storage bin comprising: a bin portion having a bottomand a side wall, the bottom and the side wall defining an interior ofthe bin portion; a long wall within the interior of the bin portion andconnected to the side wall; and a telescoping short wall within theinterior of the bin portion and connected to the long wall, the shortwall including a first portion and a second portion, wherein: the firstportion includes a connection end having a tab, and a clip end having aclip; and the second portion includes a connection end having a collarthat receives the tab of the first portion, and a clip end having aclip.
 2. The adjustable storage bin of claim 1, wherein the side wallincludes a front side, a rear side opposite the front side, a first sidethat extends from the front side to the rear side, and a second sideopposite the first side that extends from the front side to the rearside.
 3. The adjustable storage bin of claim 2, wherein the long wall isconnected to the front side and the rear side of the side wall, or tothe first side and the second side of the side wall.
 4. The adjustablestorage bin of claim 1, wherein the long wall includes a first end and asecond end, each end of the long wall having a clip configured toconnect to a top edge of the side wall.
 5. The adjustable storage bin ofclaim 1, wherein the collar of the second portion of the telescopingwall slidably receives the tab of the first portion of the telescopingwall.
 6. The adjustable storage bin of claim 1, wherein the telescopingwall has a length that is increased by pulling the clip end of the firstportion away from the clip end of the second portion, and is decreasedby pushing the clip end of the first portion towards the clip end of thesecond portion.
 7. The adjustable storage bin of claim 1, wherein thecollar of the second portion includes a flap that engages the tab of theof the first portion.
 8. The adjustable storage bin of claim 1, whereinthe clip of the first portion and the clip of the second portion eachinclude a hook, the hook being configured to connect to a top edge of along wall or to a top edge of the side wall.
 9. The adjustable storagebin of claim 1, wherein the adjustable storage bin includes a pluralityof long walls and a plurality of telescoping walls.
 10. An adjustablestorage bin comprising: a bin portion having a bottom and a side wall,the bottom and the side wall defining an interior of the bin portion; atelescoping long wall within the interior of the bin portion andconnected to the side wall, the telescoping long wall including a firstportion and a second portion, wherein: the first portion includes aconnection end having a tab, and a clip end having a clip; and thesecond portion includes a connection end having a collar that receivesthe tab of the first portion, and a clip end having a clip; and a shortwall within the interior of the bin portion and connected to the longwall.
 11. The adjustable storage bin of claim 10, wherein the at leastone side wall includes a front side, a rear side opposite the frontside, a first side that extends from the front side to the rear side,and a second side opposite the first side that extends from the frontside to the rear side.
 12. The adjustable storage bin of claim 11,wherein the long wall is connected to the front side and the rear sideof the side wall, or to the first side and the second side of the sidewall.
 13. The adjustable storage bin of claim 10, wherein the short wallincludes a first end and a second end, each end of the short wall havinga clip configured to connect to a top edge of the side wall or to a topedge of a long wall.
 14. The adjustable storage bin of claim 10, whereinthe collar of the second portion of the telescoping wall slidablyreceives the tab of the first portion of the telescoping wall.
 15. Theadjustable storage bin of claim 10, wherein the telescoping long wallhas a length that is increased by pulling the clip end of the firstportion away from the clip end of the second portion, and is decreasedby pushing the clip end of the first portion towards the clip end of thesecond portion.
 16. The adjustable storage bin of claim 10, wherein thecollar of the second portion includes a flap that engages the tab of theof the first portion.
 17. The adjustable storage bin of claim 10,wherein the clip of the first portion and the clip of the secondportion, each include a hook, the hook being configured to connect to atop edge of the side wall.
 18. The adjustable storage bin of claim 10,wherein the adjustable storage bin includes a plurality of telescopinglong walls and a plurality of short walls.
 19. An adjustable storage bincomprising: a bin portion having a bottom and a side wall, the bottomand the side wall defining an interior of the bin portion; a telescopinglong wall within the interior of the bin portion and connected to theside wall, the telescoping long wall including a first portion and asecond portion, wherein: the first portion includes a connection endhaving a tab, and a clip end having a clip; and the second portionincludes a connection end having a collar that receives the tab of thefirst portion, and a clip end having a clip; and a telescoping shortwall within the interior of the bin portion and connected to thetelescoping long wall, the telescoping short wall including a firstportion and a second portion, wherein: the first portion includes aconnection end having a tab, and a clip end having a clip; and thesecond portion includes a connection end having a collar that receivesthe tab of the first portion, and a clip end having a clip.
 20. Theadjustable storage bin of claim 19, wherein the adjustable storage binincludes a plurality of telescoping long walls and a plurality oftelescoping short walls.